Self-locking connecting link



Oct. 19 1926.. 1,603,389

. A.L.JOHNSTON,JR

SELF LOCKING CONNECTING LINK Filed April 11, 1921 INVENTOR ATTORNEYPatented Get. 19, 1926. i i i I if UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW LANG-STAFF JOHNSTON, 33., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOLR, BY MESNEAS- SIGNMENTS, TO OFFNON CHAIN CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

SELF-LOOKING CONNECTING LINK.

Application filed April 11, 1921. Serial No. 460,191.

This invention relates to anti-skid chains ably engage the oppositeterminal link of 55 for automobile tiresand more particularly the sidechain. to fastening devices for joining the ends of As shown best inFigs. 2 and 3, the fasthe side chains. tening link includes a rigid hookmember 6 5 It is an object of the invention to provide having oppositelydirected hooks 7 and 8 for reliable and efficient anti-skid chainscapaengaging links 4 and 5 of the side chain. 60 ble of quick and easyapplication to a tire. Supplementary hooks may be provided for It isanother object of the invention to adjustment as for example in the formof provide a simple and secure self-locking fasthe hook 8 as shown.

10 tening device for tire chains. A closing member or keeper 9, channelIt is a further object of the invention to shaped in cross section, ispivotally carried 65 provide a fastening link which is easy of by thehook 6 by means of a pin or rivet 10 operation, efficient in use andinexpensive and has opposed slots 11 in the walls thereof to ma ufact rlocated. at the same distance from the pin 15 Other objects will be inpart obvious and 10 through which the transverse connecting in partpointed out hereinafter. strand 1 of the connecting link 4 of the side70 In the accompanying drawings wherein chain may be threaded, theseslots being is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the open or closedbut preferably closed as invention, shown. It will be noted from thedrawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of that the closure memberor keeper 9 has the chain in use on a tire; soaced walls adapted tooverlap the sides of 75 Fig. 2 is a side view of the improved fasthehook member 6, the opposed slots 11 in tening link taken from above inFigure 1 the walls providing an elongated seat for Fig. 3 is a similarside view of the link in receiving the connecting strand 4 which exopencondition. tends between said walls providing a means The inventionconcerns principally a fasfor connecting the end of the chain to the B0tening device for connecting the free ends keeper. This arrangement alsoprovides a of a circumferential side chain commonly lost motionconnection between the link t employed in anti-skid apparatus. Asillusand the keeper 9 whereby these parts are bod trated, the generalarrangement of parts is ily movable with reference to each other.similar to standard devices for the preven- The purpose of this lostmotion connection 85 tion of skidding. Two circumferential side is morefully. described below. chains 1, (of which one only is shown) The pivotpin 10 is located adjacent an adapted to fit closely against anautomobile end of the connecting link and is offset from tire are joinedby a series of cross chains 2 the center line or line of strain causedby which in use encircle the tread of the tire tension on the chain.When the link is in 9 and furnish ground gripping means for its closedposition as in Fig. 2, the chain link avoiding slipping. The links ofthe side t is drawn back through the slot 11 by the chains may be of anysuitable construction normal pull of the chain and the strain is and apreferred form is illustrated in which borne principally by the hook 7of the comeach link is formed from a single strand paratively heavymember 6. Tension on the 95 of chain wire bent into a large loop, thefree chain resists opening pivotal movement of ends of which are furtherlooped to form the member 9 by reason of the offset dispoeyes and bentto re nforce the necks of the sition of the pivot pin 10 and furtherlocks eyes. The cross chains may be of suitable the parts in closedposition by restraining standard construction. By the present inthe link4: from movement to the left wi hin 190 vention an improved link 3 isprovided for the slot 11. necessary 'to avoid the projecting connectingthe free ends of the side chains 1 hook 7.

especially of that side chain illustrated in completing the applicationof anti-skid which lies on the outside of the wheel and chains to. atire it is ordinarily necessary to which is ordinarily fastened last. Inthe exert considerable tension. on the side chains U5 present embodimentthe fastening link and the present invention serves to facilitateadapted to be permanently carried. on the closure of the s 'l'ins byproviding meeting link t of the chain, tn cle h a levera action in asprocess of engaging;

one of the links with one of the hooks and to provide a construction inwhich the link when engaged shall be locked in position by operativetension on the chain in use. Accordingly, the process of closureproceeds in the manner to be described. he link 5 of the side chain isfirst thrown over the hook 8 (or over the hook 8) and the hook closingmember 9 is then pivotally moved on the pin 10 from the open position.of Fig; 3 to the closing position of Fig. 2 ever the entrances to thehooks thus acting as a lever to exert a tightening tension on the sidechain. In this closing ino'ifen'ient of the keeper 9 the link t isdirected into engaging position With the hook seat of the hook '7, thetransverse strand fl riding over the curved nose of the hook 7 whichthus acts as a cam to move the link i forwardly in the slots 11,. Thelink then passes into its seat in the hook. The pivotal motion of themember 9 is preferably positivelylimited in bothdirections, to therearas 'i1i Fig. 3 by the extremit 12 against the end of the member 6 and inits I closed position by the abutting of the end 13 of the link 9 on acooperating surface 14- of the hook8, hen closed as in'Figl 2 tension onthe side chain 1 incident to the normal operative strain on variousparts of the chainskeeps the transverse connecting sti'a'nd of'theconnecting link d in retracted position for engagement with theoverlying part of the hook? as todockthe hook closing melmberg'in closedposition. in this position as SllOWlilli FigIQithe tension of the chainis transferred from the hook closing member to the seat of the hook 7underlying the overlying part thereof. This overlying part of the hookthus forms a hook nose laterally offset from the hook seat andcooperating ivith the link strand 4: to retain the keeper 9v in closedposition. The keeper is thus doubly secured in hook closing position bychain'tensi'on incident to the offset pivotalconnection 10 and by'cooperation of the link strand with the overlying lioolnndse. In theembodiment shown the .iember 9 is of thin material and is bent into aform channel or U-shaped in section to straddle the link 6 when closed.15 adjacent the free end of the member 9 assistin opening and closingthe device. as has been described the placement of linkd within hook 7is assisted by leverage of the member 9 and its disengagement iseffected by first sliding the link t 'v-nthinthe slot 11 to'the left inFig. 2 so as to be moved clear of the hook '7, whereupon the member9 maybe swung on its axis 10 outwardly, thus relieving the tension on thechain and allowing convenient disengagement of the link 5 from the hook8.

It will be noted that a construction is provided which possessesimprovedfeatures cooperative to assist the engagement of the neoasselinks of the chain with the fastening hook against tension on the chainand to ensure a securely locked condition when the chain is in use.

Since certain alterations in the above construction might be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing itsadvantages, it is intended tha all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

aving described my invention, what I claim is new and desire toseciii'eby Letters Patent is:

1. Ina connecting device, in combination. a hook member havingoppositely directed hooks adapted to receive lin is of a-chain or thelike and a hook-closing niember movably connected to said hook inembeijone of said links having a lost-motion connection with said hook closingmember and being adapted to engage with one of said hooks to hold saidhook-closing member in closing position, said hook closing member beingadapted to direct said last mentioned link into its hook when moved toclosed position and to positively carry said link fr m its seat whenmoved tovrard open position;

2. In a self locking connecting device, in combination, ahook member fordetachable attachment of the'ends ofacliain, saidh'ook men'rb'er havingoppositely directed open hooks with seats arranged substantially on theaxis of thehook member and an overlying part for one of said seats, ahook rlo:;- ing member connected for pivotal movement on said hookmember and .foldable thereon, said hook closing member having spacedWalls arranged to overlap the side; of said hook member and adapted toclo'c said hooks when in folded position, connecting means extending topoints intermediate the Walls of said closing member for permanentlyconnecting one end of the chain thereto, said connecting means being removed from said pivotal connection so to exert a pull onthe chain, whenthe clos' Hf "3 member is moved toward closing position, and to carrysaid connecting means into position for seating in one of said hooks,said connecting incs aeing bodily movable longitudinally of saidhookmember under chain tension into position to cooperate with said seat,overlying part to lock said closure member against pivotal movement 3,In a self locking connecting device in combination, a. hook memberhaving oppositely directed open hooks providing hook seats arrangedsubstantially on tlie"lon;:itudinal axis thereof for detachableattachment of a chain or the like, a hook closing member connected forpivotal n'iovement onsaid hook member and foldable thereon, said hookclosing member having spaced iii) walls arranged to overlap the sides ofsaid hook member and being adapted to close said hook when in foldedposition, connecting means extending to points intermediate the walls ofsaid closing member for connecting said chain thereto, said connectingmeans being removed from said pivotal connection so as to exert a pullon the chain when the hook closing mcmberis moved toward closingposition, and to carry the connecting means into position for seating inone of said hook seats, or to positively carry it from its hook seatwhen moved in'opening direction, said connecting means being bodilymovable longitudinallyof said hook member under chain tension intoposition to cooperate with-the corresponding hook to lock saidclosingmember in closed position.

4. In a device ofthe character described, in combination, a chain havingfree ends and a connecting link therefor comprising a member havinghooks with seats arranged substantially at the longitudinal axis of saidmember for detachably connecting said chain, and a hook closing memberpivotaily connected to said menrberadjacent an end at a point offsetfronisaidaxis and permanently carrying a link of said chain, said secondmember being adapted to exert a tightening tension on said chain byleverage in closing and adapted to be removably held in closing positionby engagement of said carried chain link withone of said books.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a chainhaving free ends and a connecting link therefor comprising a memberhaving hooks'with seats arranged substantially at the longitudinal axisof said member for detachably connecting said chain and a hook closingmember pivotally connected to said member at a point offset from saidaxis and having means to limit pivotal motion in both directions, saidsecond member being operative as a lver to exert a tightening tension onsaid chain and to of feet engagement of a chain link with one of saidhooks upon pivotal motion to close the entrances to said hooks and beingadapted to be locked in closing position by operative strain of saidchain on said hooks.

(3. In a self locking connecting device, in combination, a hook memberfor detachable attachment of opposed connecting links of a chain or thelike and having oppositely directed receiving hooks providing hook seatsarranged substantially on the longitndii'ial axis of the hook member,one of which is provided with an overlying cam nose, and means forlocking said links in engagement with said hook seats including a guardmember connected for pivotal movement to said hook member near the endthereof proximate to said hookseat with the overlying cam nose and beingswingable upon said hook member from openposition to close the entrancesto said hook seats, one of said link connections being freely initiallyreceivable when the guard member is open in the hook seatremote fromsaid cam nose, and remaining permanently thereing while the guard memberis in closed position, and a second link connection having a permanentconnection with said guard member to positively carry it to and from itshook seat when said guard member is swung on said hook member, saidsecond link connection being positioned on said guard member to contactwith said cam nose when the guard member is swung, whereby, when theguard member is swung to hook closing position, a tensioning effect isexerted and the permanently connected link is cammed forwardly by saidcam nose and directed thereby into the adjacent hook seat into which itmay pass under chain tension, the guard member then being held in closedposition by cooperation of said permanent connection with said overlyingcam nose.

7. In anti-skid chains for automobile tires, in combination, means forjoining the ends of a side member of said chain comprising a foldablelink consisting of a member having oppositely directed open hooksadapted to engage links of said side member and a guard member pivotallyconnected to said hook member adjacent an end, at a point offset fromthe center lineof said hook member, and having a slot adapted to carry aloop of a chain link, said guard member being adapted to act as a leverto exert tightening tension on said side chain upon pivotal motion onsaid hook member whereby said link carried thereby is looped over one ofsaid hooks, said guard member being adapted to close the entrance tosaid hooks and to be locked in closing position by operative strain ofsaid link carried thereby against said engaged hook.

8. In a self locking connecting device, in

vcombination, a hook member for detachable attachment of chains or thelike and having an open hook providing a hook seat disposedsubstantlally on the longitudinal axis there- Iof, and having a cam noseoverlying said hook seat, a keeper connected for pivotal movement uponsaid hook member and being .foldable thereon and adapted to close saidhook when in folded position, said keeper ibeing formed to provide anelongated slot, vdisposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of thehook member when the keeper is in folded position and adapted for thereception of a chain connecting link, said slot being removed from saidpivotal connection so as to exert a tensioning effect on the chain whenthe keeper is being folded and to direct said connecting link into saidhook seat to transfer chain tension thereto, said connect link when thekeeper is being folded riding over said cam nose and thereby cammedforwardly and being directed under chain tension into the hook seat,said connecting link when seated cooperating with said hook and a sidewall of the elongated slot in said keeper to retain said keeper inclosed position.

9. in a :elt locking connecting device, in combination, a hook memberfor detachable attachment of a chain or the like having an open hooknroviding a hook scat disposed substantia ;v on the lon itudinal axisthere of, and havn LtiSPOS Qd laterally from and overlying said hookseat, a keeper connected for pivots. movement on said hook member beingi oldable thereon and adapter to cloe said hook when in folded position,said keeper ha ."ing an elongated seat for the reception of a chainconnecting link and being removed from said pivotal connection so as todirect said connecting link into said hook seat and to transfer chaintension thereto, said elongc" 2 seat be ng so disposed that theconnecting link ur r chain tension normally lies at one extremitythereot' when the keeper is in open position, and at the oppositeextremity when the keeper is closed so as to underlie said hook nose andcooper ate therewith to hold said keeper in closed position, said keeperwhen moved toward open position being also adapted through its elongatedseat to positively carry said connecting link away from said hook.

10. In a selt locking connecting device, in combination, a hook membertor detachable attachment of a chain or the like having an open hookproviding hook seat disposed substtanti ally on the longitudinal axisthereot, and having hook nose disposed laterally from and overlying s idhook seat, a keeper connected for pi movement at on on said hook memberlaterally disposed from said longitudinal axis and being toldablethereon and adapted to close said hook when in tolded position, saidkeeper having an elongated seat tor the reception of a chain connectinglink and being adapted to direct said connecting link into said hookseat and to transfer chain tension thereto, said elongated scat being sodisposed that the connecting link under chain tension nor- ,."lly liesat one extremity thereof when the keeper is in open. pos tion and at theopposite extremity when the keeper is in in combination, a hook memberfor detachable attachment of chains or the like and having an open hookwith a hook seat disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of thehook member, and having a cam nose laterally disposed from and overlyingsaid hook seat, a keeper connected for pivotal movement at a region onsaid hook member laterally disposed from said longitudinal axis andbeing toldable on said hook memher and adapted to close said hook whenin folded poe'tion, said keeper being substantially channel shaped andadapted to lap one edge and the sides of said hook member, and thespaced walls thereot being provided with opposed elongated seats for thereception oi a chain connecting link so as to cam the latter forwardlyover said cam nose and to direct it into said hook seat when the keeperis moved towards closed position, and said chain connecting linkcooperating with said elongated seats to positively carry the link awayfrom said hook when the keeper is moved toward open position, saidconnecting link under chain tension normally engaging with correspondingends of said opposed elongated seats when the keeper is in openposition, and engaging with opposite ends thereof when in closedposition to hold the keeper closed,

12. in a self locking connecting device, in combination, a hook memberfor detachable attachment of chains or the like havin an open hookproviding a hook seat disposed substantially on the longitudinal axisthereof, and having a hook nose disposed laterally from and overlyingsaid hook seat, a keeper connected for pivotal movement at a region onsaid hook member laterally disposed :trom said longitudinal axis andbein toldable on said hook member and adapted to close said hook when infolded position, said keeper being substantially channelshaped andadapted to lap one edge and the sides or said hook member, and thespaced walls thereof being provided with opposed elongated seats for thereception of a chain connecting link so as to direct the latter intosaid hook when the keeper is moved toward closed position and topositively carry it away from said hook when moved toward open position,said connecting link under chain tension normally engaging withcorresponding ends of 11d seat when the keeper is in open position, andengaging with the opposite ends thereof when in closed position so as tounderlie said hook nose and to hold the keeper closed through action ofchain tension and by cooperation with said hook nose and a stop adjacentthe connection between said hook member and keeper for limiting openingmovement of said keeper.

13;,In a self locking connecting device, in combination, a hook memberfor detachiii-0 able attachment of a chain or the like having oppositelydirected open hooks providing hook seats disposed substantially on thelongitudinal axis thereof, a keeper connected for pivotal movement onsaid hook member and being ioldable thereon so as to close saidoppositely directed hooks when in folded position, said keeper havingoppositely directed operating lugs near the free end thereof and beingsubstantially channelshaped so as to lap one edge and the pides of saidhook member and the spaced walls thereof being provided with opposedelongated closed seats for the reception of a chain connecting link andbeing removed from said pivotal connection so as to exert a tensioningejtlec when the keeper is moved toward closed position and to directsaid connecting link into one 01 said hook seats and to transfer chaintension thereto, said keeper when moved toward open position beingadapted positively to carry the connecting link away from its hook, saidconnecting link under chain tension normally engaging with correspondingends of said seats when the keeper is in open position and engaging withthe opposite ends thereof when in closed position so as to hold thekeeper closed.

14. In a connecting device for chains or the like, in combination, ahook member having a hook providing a hook seat disposed substantiallyon the longitudinal axis thereof for the reception of a connecting linkand having a hook nose disposed laterally from and overlying said hookseat and a hook closing member pivotally connected to said hook member,said hook cl0sing member being channel shaped so as to close the sidesand top of the hook and having spaced elongated closed slots forreceiving and positively connecting said link and providing an elongatedseat therefor, said closing member through said elongated seat beingadapted to exert a tensioning efliect on the chain and to direct the:connecting link into registry with the hook seat when the hook closingmember is moved toward closed position, and positively to carry it awayfrom the hook when moved toward open position, said elongated seat beingso disposed that the link under chain tension normaliy lies at oneextremity thereof when the hook ciosing member is in open position andat the opposite extremity when the hook closing member is closed, saidslots being disposed inwardly from the pivotal connection o't aid hookmember and closing member and approxin'iately coinciding with the axisof the hook member when the closing member is in" closed position, saidconnecting link und rlying said hook nose and cooperating with aterminal of said elongated seat and with said hook nose to retain thehook closing member in closed position, said hook member having an openhook seat opposing said first mentioned hook seat for detachablyreceiving a connecting link of the chain and being closed by saidclosing member when the latter is in closed position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

ANDREW LANGSTAFF JOHNSTON, Jr.

